Why Moms Feel Guilty When Doing Good Things for Themselves
Season 2, Episode 128
You know that feeling when you finally book a massage, go for a walk alone, or say yes to a night out… and then feel guilty the whole time? Yeah. That’s the guilt loop, and in this episode Jill and Linda are naming it, laughing at it, and starting to break it.
From the invisible pressure to be everything to everyone, to the stories we tell ourselves about what “good moms” do, this conversation digs into why doing something kind for yourself can feel so wrong, even when you know you need it.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why guilt around self-care is often a bigger barrier than time, money, or motivation.
- How we’ve been conditioned to equate self-sacrifice with being a “good mom.”
- What the guilt loop actually looks like in real, messy mom life (and how it keeps you stuck).
- The hidden fears underneath “If I take care of myself, does that make me a bad mum?”
- The quiet ways partners, family, and social media can feed the guilt, even when they don’t mean to.
- Simple reframes and practices to start interrupting the guilt loop in a real week.
By the end, you’ll see that you’re not lazy or bad at self-care—you’re caught in a pattern you were never meant to carry alone. Self-care isn’t selfish or extra; it’s what makes everything else sustainable.
For a simple way to start this week, notice when the guilt shows up, name it (“this is the guilt loop talking”), and do one small good thing for yourself anyway—without over-explaining or shrinking it to make it more acceptable.
For a simple way to start with self-care, send them an email or connect with Jill on socials @mamaoutspoken and mamaoutspoken.com and Linda @hellolindabonney or lindabonney.com
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Until next week – we hope you can unstuck your muck!
